A continuation of the discussion we had regarding our portfolio findings today (Wed 26 Sep.) might be perfect for the department blog. Links to the specific reports, agenda, etc. can be found on the department web site. If you look on the right side of the blog page, under “History Links,” the department page is there.
Points made in the meeting:
1. Complexity could consist of introducing students to historiography (ie. John Lewis Gaddis says the Cold War began because of x, y and z, William Appleman Williams disagrees—he claims a and b were the most important causes)
2. It could also consist of weighing many factors and ordering them or grouping them (this is a requirement by the way on both the AP World and AP European College Board exams)
3. Which gets more weight? It depends on teacher style, particular courses (U.S. History is probably the easier place to bring in historiography), and grade level (Middle School teachers explained how they weave some of it in in 7th and 8th grade)
I think continuing along these lines makes sense–in other words if we look at the department standards and benchmarks and the curriculum maps, can we find evidence of a building process around the complexities of history? Do we consistently come back to this point 6-12? ( I will start looking at that data, unless someone else would like to compile that information.)
4. The mission alignment committee should look at our department standards. Does “think like a social scientist” belong at the top of the list? Can “understand major events” be folded in to “think like a social scientist? (all committees will meet next time, on Oct 31 at 7:30 AM, I’ll post the list once I get it from Steve)
Again, see department standards on the department web site. A link appears to the left under “History Links.”
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PLEASE ADD YOUR THOUGHTS to this blog posting. It maybe frustrating to have 4 or 5 outstanding questions hovering around us; but I think it is a prudent approach: As we discussed at our first meeting, each committee will work on specific sets of proposals. I will work on a separate proposal to rectify the problem(s) we found in/with the portfolio data (unless there are any volunteers). We should get these together by December; I will work on setting up a “pullout day” in late January (probably at the Crown Plaza again). We will discuss all proposals then and vote them up or down. If time permits, we can develop an action plan (or a time table) for making the various changes to our 6-12 program. The second half of the year will be devoted to making sure the changes are ready to hit the ground next September (some may be possible earlier, of course; some may become longterm projects or concerns in need of more study etc.).
Thanks for a great meeting. I look forward to seeing all of your thoughts here soon.
John.
The Worcester Academy History and Social Sciences Department 